KAIST 생명과학과동창회
  • News & Events
  • News

News

One More Key to Human Longevity Found After Worm Research

Korean scientists zero in on an enzyme called VRK-1 in roundworm research that can extend their lifespan


It is known that the mitochondria is called the powerhouse of the cell, without which there will be no energy production in the cell, thereby the body too! Along with this mitochondria has its role in other important functions, one crucial role being in aging.

Research has shown that age-related diseases are linked to mitochondrial functioning. Further, it is known that "mild inhibition of mitochondrial respiration" promotes longevity in many species, which means to mildly slow down mitochondria's energy-making process. Thus, the life-span extension compensates for the reduced mitochondrial respiration.

VRK-1 is a nuclear protein that increases worm life span
VRK-1 is a nuclear protein that increases worm life span From the Research Paper

An enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) that promotes mitochondrial health is also known as anti-aging protein. The same enzyme plays a crucial role in life-span extension by reducing mitochondrial respiration.

Worm Research

Research on roundworms has shown that an enzyme called VRK-1 can extend their lifespan. VRK-1 does this by increasing the level of AMPK resulting in an increase in its activity, promoting longevity through phosphorylation.

This is an important finding in the research of extending human lifespan too.

Korean scientists published a paper this Wednesday in Science Advances, that showed how the lifespan of worms was extended by varying VRK-1 levels.

The Experiment

Roundworms normally have a lifespan of about two to three weeks. But the genetically engineered worms in the experiment, having elevated levels of VRK-1 lived about 23.7 days on average - they lived longer. When they inhibited the function of VRK-1 in other worms, they found that their lives were shortened.

Lab-controlled worms that lived 20.3 days on average, lived only 12.7 days as VRK-1 was inhibited. That is, the worms died sooner.

A senior author of the paper, Seung-Jae Lee, professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology told Inverse that the key to activating longevity was in the anti-aging protein, AMPK, while the key to activating AMPK is VRK-1. The VRK-1 enzyme is found in worms and has its cousin in human cells, that's very similar to it.

Humans?

Ageing
Representational Image Pxfuel

"Therefore, it is possible that this mechanism can be applied to promoting human longevity in the future," he added.

Similar patterns were shown in cultured human cells in the experiment, Lee said, showing that the process holds even in complex organisms.

Replicating the study in animals, like mice will show it's likeliness in humans. However, scientists still don't know how exactly the process occurs.


https://www.ibtimes.sg/one-more-key-human-longevity-found-after-worm-research-47830


List of Articles
번호 제목 글쓴이 날짜 조회 수
130 서경배재단 ‘올해의 신진 과학자’ 조원기 교수 선정 생명과학과 2020.09.16 4007
129 2020년 우수논문상 file 생명과학과 2020.04.03 3872
128 조병관 교수님 _Newly discovered metabolic pathway uses single carbon gases as a feedstock file 생명과학과 2020.11.20 3599
127 조병관 교수님_ 미생물 이용한 탄소 가스 활용기술 개발 file 생명과학과 2020.03.27 3427
126 전상용 교수님_ 면역항암제 효율 높인 나노입자 백신 개발 file 생명과학과 2020.06.17 3201
125 김광수 석좌교수님_한인과학자, 줄기세포 치료 첫 성공 생명과학과 2020.06.03 3103
124 2020 Spring KAIST Compass 생명과학과 2020.05.07 2877
123 전상용교수님_항암제 표적 단백질을 약물 전달체로 쓴다?​ file 생명과학과 2020.08.26 2869
122 [한국의 AI 추격자들] 서범석·백승욱 루닛 창업자 file 생명과학과 2020.10.30 2845
121 [조병관 교수님] 이산화탄소 흡수해 아세트산 만드는 '친환경 미생물' 5종 발견 생명과학과 2022.06.17 2767
120 정원석 교수_ 삼성전자, ‘세계 알츠하이머의 날’ 맞아 연구원 노력 담은 영상 공개 생명과학과 2020.09.21 2585
119 정현정교수_ 커피링 효과로 감염병 신속진단 기술 개발 생명과학과 2020.09.17 2322
118 서성배 교수님(김진은 석박사통합과정)_2020 대한민국 인재상 수상 생명과학과 2021.02.25 1839
117 김대수 교수님_스트레스로 악화 '근긴장이상증' 억제 신약 개발…수술없는 약물치료 기대 생명과학과 2021.03.11 1782
116 정원석 교수님_Astrocytes eat connections to maintain plasticity in adult brains 생명과학과 2020.12.28 1763
115 김대수 교수님_ 카이스트 교수 `뇌 과학이 인생에 필요한 순간`(브라이트) 출간 생명과학과 2021.05.04 1753
114 조병관 교수님_Antibiotic tolerance study paves way for new treatments 생명과학과 2021.02.19 1736
113 정원석 교수님_국내 연구진, 우리 뇌가 계속 일할 수 있는 이유 밝혀 생명과학과 2021.02.26 1611
112 김진우 교수님_생명의 신비상 장려상 수상 생명과학과 2020.12.24 1519
111 정원석 교수님_KAIST, 신경세포의 흥분성 증가로 인한 뇌 질환 기제 규명 생명과학과 2021.06.03 1342
Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 22 Next
/ 22